Apart from the Bf109 the Spitfire is the best known and most renowned fighter plane of the Second World War, with a total build of over 22,500. Numerous improvements and upgrades meant that it was continually becoming more powerful. In 1941 the German air force put into service the Focke Wulf Fw190A that proved its superiority over the current versions of the Spitfire. Some rapid problem-solving gave rise to the improvement of the airframe of the Spitfire Mk V by the incorporation of more powerful engines of the Merlin 61 series with a four-blade propeller. The earlier Mk IX variants were upgraded Mk Vs with different types of wings. From 1944 onwards the Spitfire Mk XVI went into production with the Merlin 66 engine. The first aircraft of the Spitfire type IX went into service with RAF No. 64 squadron in July 1942 and from then on proved to be an effective defence against the Fw190 in both the European and the Near Eastern theatres of war. The Spitfire was produced until the end of the war. A total of 5,739 of the Mk IX and 1,054 of the Mk XVI were built and served with 79 RAF operational wings, 23 Allied squadrons under RAF Fighter Command as well as 23 Canadian, 3 Australian and 9 New Zealand squadrons.
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Accessibility Statement
At This website, we are committed to providing an accessible digital experience for all users, regardless of ability. We believe that ensuring our website is usable by people with various disabilities—whether temporary or permanent—is essential to creating an inclusive digital environment.
To help us achieve and maintain high standards of accessibility, we utilize Max Access, an advanced AI-driven accessibility solution powered by Ability, Inc., a leader in digital accessibility. This tool not only identifies accessibility issues but also provides real-time, automated remediation for a wide range of compliance issues based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
How Max Access Enhances Accessibility
Max Access continuously monitors and scans our website to identify potential barriers, automatically fixing many common issues such as:
Color contrast errors
Keyboard navigability issues
Missing or mislabeled images and interactive elements
Beyond automated fixes, Max Access provides a detailed report outlining areas that require manual attention to ensure a higher level of accessibility compliance. This combination of automation and human oversight allows us to maintain and enhance accessibility over time.
Our Commitment to Continuous Improvement
We understand that accessibility is an ongoing process, not a one-time solution. To stay in compliance, Max Access:
Scans our website regularly
to identify new issues as they arise.
Provides regularly updated remediation
for many accessibility concerns, ensuring that users can interact with key website functionalities.
Delivers detailed reports
for manual remediation, enabling us to address more complex issues that require human attention or remediation.
Feedback & Accessibility Support
While we work diligently to ensure our website is accessible, automated tools like Max Access have limitations and may not catch every issue. We welcome feedback from our users to help us improve. If you experience any difficulty accessing content on our website or have suggestions for how we can improve its accessibility, please contact us.
Our team will review and address your concerns promptly.
Web Technology and Standards
Our website relies on the following technologies to ensure compatibility with both modern web browsers and assistive tools like screen readers:
HTML
WAI-ARIA
CSS
JavaScript
These technologies allow us to meet and maintain compliance with the
WCAG 2.1
standards at
Levels A and AA.
We strive to provide a website that is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users. Thank you for visiting our website and helping us ensure a more inclusive digital world.